Torah Trivia for Parshah 25. Tzav (Questions Only)
1.) In the morning after performing the sacrifice of the burnt offering, from where does the כהן take the ashes of the offering, and where does the כהן place the ashes?
2.) How is the grain offering provided by the כהנים to be prepared, and who is able to eat from it?
3.) The pots in which the burnt offerings are made: from what material are these pots made; and what happens to the pots when an offering is complete:
a.) הכהנים dance in a circle and break the pot and yell, “L’Chaim;”
b.) The pots are overlayed with gold and sold to unsuspecting vegetarian nomads;
c.) The pots are placed within a transporter and beamed to Delta Quadrant Pi D4Pi (where replicators have yet to be established because of the absence of atmospheric mercury) where the pots are donated to psychically impoverished googlinaires who are able to decorate the pots during art therapy sessions;
d.) The pots are melted down and recrafted into bovine figures, which are immediately admonished and melted down again into powder, whereby only the כהנים are permitted to drink the mixture;
e.) The pots are scoured with boiling water and subsequently placed into one of 4 dishwashers: dairy, meat, dairy (for Pesach), meat (for Pesach);
f.) What do you mean? Put another sin burger on the barbee; and/or,
g.) The Israelites build gold-covered wooden poles, 2 אמה long, and form cords 100 אמה long (each made with either: blue, purple, and crimson linen; goats’ hair; rams’ skins; or dolphins’ skins), then wait for the cloud over the Mishkan to produce rain to wash the pots, and then hang the pots on the cords to dry?
4.) Who may eat from the purification offering?
5.) What are the different types/preparations of bread that are included for the thanksgiving offering?
6.) Which group/item is excluded from the list of groups/items that a described as being directly involved within the ordination of Aaron and his sons:
a.) Aaron;
b.) Aaron’s sons;
c.) the garments for Aaron and his sons;
d.) anointing oil;
e.) a bull for the purification offering;
f.) 2 rams;
g.) 2 turtledoves;
h.) a basket of unleavened bread;
i.) the entire community of Israelites;
j.) the Mishkan; and/or,
k.) water?
7.) What items are included within Aaron’s garments and are absent from his son’s garments:
a.) a tunic;
b.) a sash;
c.) a robe with pomegranates and bells;
d.) an ephod;
e.) a breastplate;
f.) Urim and Thumim;
g.) a turbin; and/or,
h.) a gold medallion?
8.) What is the actual, described sequence of actions through which Moshe ordains Aaron and his sons, before actually slaughtering the bull:
a.) Moshe places turbans on Aaron’s sons;
b.) Moshe girds Aaron’s sons with sashes;
c.) Moshe clothes Aaron’s sons with tunics;
d.) Moshe presents Aaron’s sons;
e.) Moshe anoints Aaron with oil;
f.) Moshe anoints the Mishkan with oil;
g.) Moshe places the gold medallion on Aaron;
h.) Moshes places the turban on Aaron;
i.) Moshe places the Urim and Thumim unto Aaron’s garments;
j.) Moshe places the breastplate on Aaron;
k.) Moshe places the ephod, and band, on Aaron;
l.) Moshe clothes Aaron with the robe;
m.) Moshe girds Aaron with the sash;
n.) Moshe places the tunic on Aaron;
o.) Moshe washes Aaron and his sons with water;
p.) Moshe presents Aaron and his sons;
q.) Moshe addresses the community;
r.) Moshe gathers together the Israelites within the courtyard?
9.) What does Moshe do differently with the 2nd ram than with the 1st ram?
a.) He dashes its blood on all sides of the altar;
b.) He smears its blood on Aaron’s, and his sons’, right ears, right thumbs, and right large toes;
c.) He washes its parts with water;
d.) He adds bread and oil with its parts;
e.) He burns all of its parts into smoke;
f.) He performs an elevation offering with its parts;
g.) He burns a portion of its parts into smoke;
h.) He takes the breast of the ram for himself; and/or,
i.) He gives a portion to Aaron and his sons?
10.) During the sacrifice of the 1st ram of ordination, Moshe dashes its blood upon all sides of the altar; amongst the offerings described within the previous Parshah, “Vayikra,” which offerings similarly include dashing of blood upon all sides of the altar?
11.) Also within the ordination ceremony, described within this Parshah Tzav, there is the description of Moshe smearing the blood of the 2nd ram upon the right ears, right thumbs, and right large toes of Aaron and his sons; where else is there a description of material (and/or additional elements) being spread on the right ear, right thumb, and right large toe of an individual?
12.) 1.) After performing the offering within this ordination ceremony, and before instructing the כהנים to eat the portion of the elevation offering, and further commanding the כהנים to remain within the courtyard of the Mishkan for the continuation of the ordination ceremony, what ritual does Moshe perform which is distinct from what the כהנים are instructed to perform for the burnt offering provided by ordinary Israelites? And 2.) For how many days are Aaron and his sons to wait within the courtyard of the Mishkan, amidst the process of the ordination ceremony?
Torah Trivia for Parshah 25. Tzav (with Answers)
1.) In the morning after performing the sacrifice of the burnt offering, from where does the כהן take the ashes of the offering, and where does the כהן place the ashes?
Answer: “The burnt offering itself shall remain where it is burned upon the altar all night until morning, while the fire on the altar is kept going on it. The priest shall dress in linen raiment, with linen breeches next to his body; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar. He shall then take off his vestments and put on other vestments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a pure place.” (Vayikra 6:2 – 4).
2.) How is the grain offering provided by the כהנים to be prepared, and who is able to eat from it?
Answer: “This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to the Lord on the occasion of his anointment: a tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening, shall be prepared with oil on a griddle. You shall bring it well soaked, and offer it as a grain offering of baked slices, of pleasing odor to the Lord. And so shall the priest, anointed from among his sons to succeed him, prepare it; it is the Lord’s—a law for all time—to be turned entirely into smoke. So, too, every grain offering of a priest shall be a whole offering: it shall not be eaten.” (Vayikra 6:13 – 16).
3.) The pots in which the burnt offerings are made: from what material are these pots made; and what happens to the pots when an offering is complete:
a.) הכהנים dance in a circle and break the pot and yell, “L’Chaim;”
b.) The pots are overlayed with gold and sold to unsuspecting vegetarian nomads;
c.) The pots are placed within a transporter and beamed to Delta Quadrant Pi D4Pi (where replicators have yet to be established because of the absence of atmospheric mercury) where the pots are donated to psychically impoverished googlinaires who are able to decorate the pots during art therapy sessions;
d.) The pots are melted down and recrafted into bovine figures, which are immediately admonished and melted down again into powder, whereby only the כהנים are permitted to drink the mixture;
e.) The pots are scoured with boiling water and subsequently placed into one of 4 dishwashers: dairy, meat, dairy (for Pesach), meat (for Pesach);
f.) What do you mean? Put another sin burger on the barbee; and/or,
g.) The Israelites build gold-covered wooden poles, 2 אמה long, and form cords 100 אמה long (each made with either: blue, purple, and crimson linen; goats’ hair; rams’ skins; or dolphins’ skins), then wait for the cloud over the Mishkan to produce rain to wash the pots, and then hang the pots on the cords to dry?
Answer: Technically, the answer is an absence of any of the above, although there are elements from a.) and e.) that are directly applicable; the pots are either made from clay or from copper; if made from clay, the pot is broken; and if made from copper, the pots are scoured with water:
“An earthen vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; if it was boiled in a copper vessel, the vessel shall be scoured and rinsed with water.” (Vayikra 6:21);
The remaining responses are highly contrived:
a.) There is an absence of a description of the Israelites dancing and breaking dishes and pottery, although this is a custom is a number of cultures, including within Greece;
b.) “Vegetarian nomads” seems to be a rather oxymoronic term;
c.) C’mon, of course there is sufficient atmospheric mercury; and who ever hears, before, of Delta Quadrant Pi? :-)
d.) Although there are reports that, interestingly, molten copper tastes better than molten gold, there is an absence of any additional commentary regarding this response;
e.) There is an absence of commentary regarding this response;
f.) What does this word, “washing,” mean?
g.) This response makes very little sense: do you ever before attempt to make cords out of rams’ skins or dolphins’ skins; and how would the pots hang on the cords without gold, silver, or copper hooks?
4.) Who may eat from the purification offering?
Answer: Presumably, Levites may eat from the purification offering:
“Only the males in the priestly line may eat of it: it is most holy.” (Vayikra 6:22).
5.) What are the different types/preparations of bread that are included for the thanksgiving offering?
Answer: “If he offers it for thanksgiving, he shall offer together with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes with oil mixed in, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of choice flour with oil mixed in, well soaked. This offering, with cakes of unleavened bread added, he shall offer along with his thanksgiving sacrifice of well-being. Out of this he shall offer one of each kind as a gift to the Lord; it shall go to the priest who dashes the blood of the offering of well-being.” (Vayikra 7:12 – 14).
6.) Which group/item is excluded from the list of groups/items that a described as being directly involved within the ordination of Aaron and his sons:
a.) Aaron;
b.) Aaron’s sons;
c.) the garments for Aaron and his sons;
d.) anointing oil;
e.) a bull for the purification offering;
f.) 2 rams;
g.) 2 turtledoves;
h.) a basket of unleavened bread;
i.) the entire community of Israelites;
j.) the Mishkan; and/or,
k.) water?
Answer: The answer is: g.) 2 turtledoves; there is an absence of any description of 2 turtledoves being directly included within the ordination of Aaron and his sons:
“The Lord spoke to (Moshe), saying: Take Aaron along with his sons, and the vestments, and anointing oil, the bull of purification offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; and assemble the whole community at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” (Vayikra 8:1 – 3);
“Then (Moshe) brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.” (Vayikra 8:6).
7.) What items are included within Aaron’s garments and are absent from his son’s garments:
a.) a tunic;
b.) a sash;
c.) a robe with pomegranates and bells;
d.) an ephod;
e.) a breastplate;
f.) Urim and Thumim;
g.) a turbin; and/or,
h.) a gold medallion?
Answer: The answer is: c.) a robe with pomegranates and bells, d.) an ephod, e.) a breastplate, f.) Urim and Thumim, and h.) a gold medallion:
“He put the tunic on him, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him, girding him with the decorated band with which he tied it to him. He put the breastpiece on him, and put into the breastpiece the Urim and Thumim. And set the headdress, in front, he put the gold frontlet, the holy diadem—as the Lord had commanded (Moshe).” (Vayikra 8:7 – 9);
“(Moshe) then brought Aaron’s sons forward, clothed them in tunics, girded them with sashes, and wound turbans upon them, as the Lord had commanded (Moshe).” (Vayikra 8:13)
This may also be compared with the passage from Tetzaveh (Shmot 28).
8.) What is the actual, described sequence of actions through which Moshe ordains Aaron and his sons, before actually slaughtering the bull:
a.) Moshe places turbans on Aaron’s sons;
b.) Moshe girds Aaron’s sons with sashes;
c.) Moshe clothes Aaron’s sons with tunics;
d.) Moshe presents Aaron’s sons;
e.) Moshe anoints Aaron with oil;
f.) Moshe anoints the Mishkan with oil;
g.) Moshe places the gold medallion on Aaron;
h.) Moshes places the turban on Aaron;
i.) Moshe places the Urim and Thumim unto Aaron’s garments;
j.) Moshe places the breastplate on Aaron;
k.) Moshe places the ephod, and band, on Aaron;
l.) Moshe clothes Aaron with the robe;
m.) Moshe girds Aaron with the sash;
n.) Moshe places the tunic on Aaron;
o.) Moshe washes Aaron and his sons with water;
p.) Moshe presents Aaron and his sons;
q.) Moshe addresses the community;
r.) Moshe gathers together the Israelites within the courtyard?
Answer: The actual, described sequence is this:
r.) “(Moshe) did as the Lord commanded him. And when the community was assembled at the entrance of the Meeting Tent,” (Vayikra 8:4);
q.) “(Moshe) said to the community, ‘This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.’” (Vayikra 8:5);
p.) “Then (Moshe) brought Aaron and his sons forward” (Vayikra 8:6);
o.) “and washed them with water.” (Vayikra 8:6);
n.) “He put the tunic on him,” (Vayikra 8:7);
m.) “girded him with the sash,” (Vayikra 8:7);
l.) “clothed him with the robe,” (Vayikra 8:7);
k.) “and put the ephod on him, girding him with the decorated band with which he tied it to him.” (Vayikra 8:7);
j.) “He put the breastpiece on him,” (Vayikra 8:8);
i.) “and put into the breastpiece the Urim and Thummim.” (Vayikra 8:8);
h.) “And he set the headdress on his head;” (Vayikra 8:9)
g.) “and on the headdress, in front, he put the gold frontlet, the holy diadem—as the Lord had commanded (Moshe).” (Vayikra 8:9);
f.) “(Moshe) took the anointing oil and anointed the Tabernacle and all that was in it, thus consecrating them. He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, anointing the altar, all its utensils, and the laver with its stand, to consecrate them.” (Vayikra 8:10 – 11);
e.) “He poured some of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.” (Vayikra 8:12);
d.) “(Moshe) then brought Aaron’s sons forward,” (Vayikra 8:13);
c.) “clothed them in tunics,” (Vayikra 8:13);
b.) “girded them with sashes,” (Vayikra 8:13);
a.) “and wound turbans upon them, as the Lord had commanded (Moshe).” (Vayikra 8:13).
9.) What does Moshe do differently with the 2nd ram than with the 1st ram?
a.) He dashes its blood on all sides of the altar;
b.) He smears its blood on Aaron’s, and his sons’, right ears, right thumbs, and right large toes;
c.) He washes its parts with water;
d.) He adds bread and oil with its parts;
e.) He burns all of its parts into smoke;
f.) He performs an elevation offering with its parts;
g.) He burns a portion of its parts into smoke;
h.) He takes the breast of the ram for himself; and/or,
i.) He gives a portion to Aaron and his sons?
Answer: The answer is: b.), d.), f.), g.), h.), and i.):
“He brought forward the second ram, the ram of ordination. Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the ram’s head, and it was slaughtered. (Moshe) took some of its blood and put it on the ridge of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. (Moshe) then brought forward the sons of Aaron, and put some of the blood on the ridges of their right ears, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet; and the rest of the blood (Moshe) dashed against every side of the altar. He took the fat—the broad tail, all the fat about the entrails, the protuberance of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat—and the right thigh. From the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord, he took one cake of unleavened bread, one cake of oil bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat parts and on the right thigh. He placed all these on the palms of Aaron and on the palms of his sons, and elevated them as an elevation offering before the Lord. Then (Moshe) took them from their hands and turned them into smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering for a pleasing odor; it was a gift to the Lord. (Moshe) took the breast and elevated it as an elevation offering before the Lord; it was (Moshe’s) portion of the ram of ordination—as the Lord had commanded (Moshe).” (Vayikra 8:22 – 29)
“(Moshe) said to Aaron and his sons: Boil the flesh at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of ordination--” (Vayikra 8:31);
With the 1st ram, Moshe performs: a.), c.), and e.):
“The he brought forward the ram of burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the ram’s head, and it was slaughtered. (Moshe) dashed the blood against all sides of the altar. The ram was cut up into sections and (Moshe) turned the head, the sections, and the suet into smoke on the altar; (Moshe) washed the entrails and the legs with water and turned all of the ram into smoke. That was a burnt offering for a pleasing odor, a gift to the Lord—as the Lord had commanded (Moshe).” (Vayikra 8:18 – 21).
10.) During the sacrifice of the 1st ram of ordination, Moshe dashes its blood upon all sides of the altar; amongst the offerings described within the previous Parshah, “Vayikra,” which offerings similarly include dashing of blood upon all sides of the altar?
Answer: Within Parshah Vayikra, the offerings that involve dashing of blood upon all sides of the altar include:
a.) the bull, as a burnt offering (Vayikra 1:5);
b.) the sheep and goat, as a burnt offering (Vayikra 1:11);
c.) the cattle, as a wellbeing offering (Vayikra 3:2);
d.) the sheep, as a wellbeing offering (Vayikra 3:8); and,
e.) the goat, as a wellbeing offering (Vayikra 3:13);
11.) Also within the ordination ceremony, described within this Parshah Tzav, there is the description of Moshe smearing the blood of the 2nd ram upon the right ears, right thumbs, and right large toes of Aaron and his sons; where else is there a description of material (and/or additional elements) being spread on the right ear, right thumb, and right large toe of an individual?
Answer: The proceeding passages include such a description:
a.) Within the initial description of the ordination of Aaron and his sons, there is the same description of smearing of blood upon the right ears, right thumbs, and right toes (Shmot 29:20);
b.) Later, within Parshah Metzora, a healing leper is cleansed with blood smeared upon the right ear, right thumb, and right large toe (Vayikra 14:14, 25);
c.) Also within Parshah Metzora, a healing leper is cleansed with oil smeared upon the right ear, right thumb, and right large toe (Vayikra 14:17, 28); and,
d.) Within the initial portion of the Book of Shmot, there is the description of Moshe smearing the words of liberation within the right ear of Paraoh; Adonai smearing righteousness upon the right thumb of oppression that Paraoh previously places upon the Israelites; and Adonai smearing a vision of compassion upon the large right toe of Paraoh as he vanishes amidst the Sea of Reeds (the source of this specific response is from the “Imaginary Mishnah,” which is a recently contrived document that is found hidden within the historically abandoned halls of humour and contains very little shred of actuality within this temporal realm);
Can anyone find additional appearances of the “Right Ear, Right Thumb, Right Big Toe ‘Pokey’”?
12.) 1.) After performing the offering within this ordination ceremony, and before instructing the כהנים to eat the portion of the elevation offering, and further commanding the כהנים to remain within the courtyard of the Mishkan for the continuation of the ordination ceremony, what ritual does Moshe perform which is distinct from what the כהנים are instructed to perform for the burnt offering provided by ordinary Israelites? And 2.) For how many days are Aaron and his sons to wait within the courtyard of the Mishkan, amidst the process of the ordination ceremony?
Answer:
1.) Moshe sprinkles blood and oil upon the כהנים :
“And (Moshe) took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it upon Aaron and upon his vestments, and also upon his sons and upon their vestments. Thus he consecrated Aaron and his vestments, and also his sons and their vestments.” (Vayikra 8:30).
2.) Aaron and his sons are to wait for 7 days:
“You shall not go outside the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the day that your period of ordination is completed. For your ordination will require seven days. Everything done today, the Lord has commanded to be done seven days, to make expiation for you. You shall remain at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days, keeping the Lord’s charge—that you may not die—for so I have been commanded.” (Vayikra 8:33 – 34).
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Discussion Questions:
Does the altar fire continue burning during Shabbat; and if so, is adding wood to the fire during Shabbat exempt from the Shabbat work restrictions?
What continuity exists within 1.) the distinct commands regarding descendants, other than those of Aaron, eating from the grain offering and becoming Holy, and 2.) death being proscribed for those who are unqualified to approach that which is Holy; what is the nature between the prohibition and the immediate “ordination”? And how does this compare with Adonai’s command to Adam and Chavah to abstain from eating of the Tree of Knowledge?
What is the esoteric connexion between the כהן and the sacrifice being made? What does the כהן
experience when performing the sacrifice, and how does this differ from the experience of the person offering the sacrifice?
Within Parshah Vayikra, there is the description of the כהן making an offering, a community leader making, an offering, an ordinary man making an offering and an entire community making an offering (with both the כהן and the entire community similarly being required to make an offering of 1 bull each); within Parshah Tzav, there is the description of the ordination of Aaron and his sons, with he and his sons offering 1 bull, together; is this offering made on the individual behalf of Aaron, or on the collective behalf of the entire “community of כהנים ,” which is other than a specifically designated group within the previously described categories of sacrifices within Parshah Vayikra?
Are Aaron and his sons naked when being washed during the ordination? And if so, does Moshe require Aaron’s sons to wait naked, whilst clothing Aaron and anointing Aaron and the Mishkan with oil, before clothing Aaron’s sons in the formal garments?
What happens, within the courtyard of the Mishkan, to Aaron and his sons during the 7 days of the ordination ceremony?
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